John O'Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie from the National Yacht Club is the latest entry into Ireland's newest offshore sailing race.
With 12 days to go to the start of the inaugural Fastnet 450 Race from Dublin to Cork via the Fastnet Rock, SCORA organisers are reporting a 16-boat fleet already assembled since entry opened at the weekend.
The fact that there has been such disappointment over the cancellation of the Round Ireland Race, WAVE Regatta and the ICRA Nationals may attract more entries to August 22nd's novel event that does not feature any shoreside activity. As a result, it is certainly living up to its 'pop-up' moniker with the National Yacht Club and Royal Cork all behind the SCORA efforts to launch the race in record time.
As Afloat's WM Nixon related at the weekend, the Fastnet 450 is a modern-day re-enactment of a Victorian race in a year that marks special 150th and 300th anniversaries for the NYC and RCYC respectively.
Some of Ireland's top offshore boats were early sign-ups after 21 registered an interest when news of the new race broke last week on August 2nd.
The top four overall from the weekend's ISORA race from Dun Laoghaire are all now racing to Cork, one of the latest entries also being Ronan O Siochru's Sunfast 37 Desert Star from the Irish Offshore Sailing School.
As Afloat previously reported, Cian McCarthy's 3300 Cinnamon Girl from Kinsale Yacht Club plus, Howth's Samaton and the J109 Indian are also now officially entered.